[“You sure you want to continue that story, John?” I stopped and looked at the new guest standing slightly behind me and to my left. I hadn’t heard him come in. Bruce didn’t seem to know who he was but I noticed the small change in attitude.
“All hell,” I answered. ] continued…
“You gonna get a drink or are you gonna get out? I don’t need any issues tonight, we’re about closed,” Bruce tells the man.
“Now tell me, Snake, why would I not want to tell my story and share the bad luck?” I asked.
“I won’t be long, relax bartender,” Snake said. I know right, what kind of name is ‘Snake’? A lousy one in most people’s books but he likes it. He earned it. Good kid done wrong throughout the years changed him into something that he is now. Not completely reliable or trustworthy but he’s bright enough to be well off. Generally, at other’s expense, mind you.
“Talk to the owner like that and he’s bound to throw you out himself. Say what you’ve got to say and let me get back to nursing my medicine, would ya?”
“Damn, both of you guys need to settle down. I was only going to warn you about running your mouth about what you saw tonight. I was doing it out of polite consideration. Friend to friend, John.”
“Snake, we ain’t never been friends. Hell, we’re barely acquaintances, kid. The few times I’ve seen you at a party down account for at the horse manure filling up Charleston’s streets. Who told you to come bother me and my cranky friend here, at this hour?”
“So difficult, I swear…” Snake mumbled under his breath. He probably didn’t expect his reaction. I’m too messed up to give it anymore energy and I’m tired of Bruce shooting me dirty looks. “Splinter.” That was all he said. He turned around and walked out after a dramatic sarcastic bow to Bruce. Piece of work.
“What the hell was that? Splinter? Men can’t have no normal names these days? What have you gotten yourself in to?”
“By the looks of it, I shouldn’t tell you. But I’m not sure why yet. I musta seen something I didn’t realize. Hmm..” I took a sip and gave that a thought, then added, “Splinter is actually a woman. A big joke to the classic rat leader of the Ninja Turtles. She’s gang leader down by the docks but unfortunately, doesn’t spend her time training mutant turtles to do martial arts. She runs a powerful drug outfit.”
“How creative. Was it her building that you saw on fire?” That idea came to mind.
“Maybe.”
“Or were they the ones that started the building fire?”
“Arson is something that group has done before but not outside of their territory. The fire was in Snatcher location. I was headed back after a long walk and caught my nerves on end as I turned the corner of Belmont and Richardson. Three hooligans were sprinting down the street ahead of me.”
“And you were a dumbass and chased them, didn’t you?” Bruce toyed.
“A dumbass indeed.” I sighed with a stretch and a physical affirmation of a beer drink and nodding, “a dumbass, for sure since I can’t explain why I did it. Something just felt wrong and I was caught up in some kind of moment.” I trailed off for a few silent minutes going through thoughts.
“The brick?” Bruce probed.
“Right. So I follow them for a few blocks and gain some distance but nothing great. It’s too dark to tell who they were but I figured I would find out where they were headed so I began to trail back. I sneak up to the last corner I saw them turn and hear some scuffling around. There’re bikes out front and some bloke screaming in a guys face about to jack him up. That’s when the fire explodes out of the building I was hiding behind. The blast sends me out into the street where my future pals are stationed. Some of their bikes toppled over but the others immediately spotted my sudden arrival. By the looks of it, they had expected the blast. One of the men pointed in my direction whipping out his switchblade when the leader pointed to the right of me.”
Pause for dramatic effect.
“And?!”
“And I got suckered into looking after seein’ there reactions. When I turned, I kissed the brick. I was so confused, I decided to lie down and take a nap. When I woke up I’d been dragged to the nearest alley and covered in trash.”
“Hmm. You do that often? You don’t smell any worse than usual.”
“It’s the only way to keep my natural pheromones under control so I can get some work done. The trash smell balances out the carnal desires.”
“Yeah I get that.”
“I then stumbled my way here. Passing an engulfed building.”
“That’s a curious story, John. Nothing sounds concrete about it.”
“You’re telling me, bud.”
“Whatcha gonna do?”
“Going to sleep, Bruce, going to sleep. Then I’m going to go talk to some Pilots.”
“Pilots? What you want with them?”
“Just because the building was in Snatcher territory don’t mean it’s theirs. Big building like that, plus Splinter’s interest got me thinking the Pilots might know something. Hey, go out the back when you leave,” I told him as I made my way up the spiral staircase to my apartment. Had it special installed, just for me. I’ll tell you how I convinced ole Bruce another time.
“Yeah I know. I have enough sense not to waltz out the front door after someone snooping around here. No thanks to you.”
“You’re welcome! Ya ungrateful, fart.”
I unlocked my door and stumbled some more in a final effort to make it to the mattress on the floor in my bedroom. Didn’t even bother taking off my fashionable digs. I flopped and left it at that. My night was over yet I had a feeling my work load just got a whole lot bigger.